New York Fashion Week is wrapping up tomorrow and it really has put on display some of the amazing steps that have been taken in the fashion world. I recently penned an article about the gorgeous Aussie model with down syndrome, Madeline Stuart, who made her debut on the catwalk.

We saw the stunning Ashley Graham head up a team of beautiful fuller-figured models who were showcasing her lingerie collection. And then I stumbled across Victoria Beckham’s cast of models and it made me stop and wonder why on earth these women had been chosen.

Now I am all for positive body image, big, small, short or tall, it doesn’t matter how you were built, women should be proud of their bodies. Yet taking a look at the images from Victoria Beckham’s Instagram account, you would think that we had set a beauty standard which is almost impossible to live up to. The models used in the designer’s runway presentation were stick thin, gaunt and generally had the clothes hanging off them rather than sitting beautifully, which you would think a designer would be looking to achieve.

There are some people that are naturally that thin, and as I mentioned above, I’m all for all shapes and sizes, but when you put a full cast together of gaunt looking women to model sought after clothing, you’re setting an example. Not a good one.

Many young girls and women strive to be like these people and in doing so compromise their health, they don’t eat well, sometimes they don’t eat and the stress it puts on their bodies is unbelievable. Is it really OK to know that impressionable young women will try to follow your beauty standards and yet still promote your brand with impossibly thin models?

After the show the designer posted images of a Coca-Cola can along with an image of wine and pizza, which had me scratching my head even more. Why post these after showing painfully thin models? Is this how to achieve that look?

This is stunning size 16 model Ashley Graham taking to the catwalk:

And Madeline Stuart looking incredibly beautiful

I think both Madeline and Ashley look brilliant and add to the diversity of the show, something we really need to help promote a healthy body image to young women. We need to show diversity and ALL shapes and sizes, not just a small section of the population. Yes there are women who are naturally very thin and if we had a very diverse range of models who were showcasing the collections then we would be celebrating it, though when you only use incredibly thin models you’re giving the impression that this is what all women should look like.

How do you feel about the use of these models? SHARE your thoughts with us in the comments below.